FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – Fernandina Beach’s downtown paid parking policy officially starts Monday.
Despite residents and business owners’ continued efforts to stop paid parking from coming to their neighborhood, the pay-to-park process moved forward and will begin on Feb. 16.
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“Paying for parking is a nuisance,” Jennifer Palmieri, a visitor from Michigan, said.
According to our news partners at Jax Today, a judge recently dismissed four out of five counts on an injunction aimed at stopping the paid parking policy.
Ali and Michael McGowan were visiting the area from Jacksonville. They said they see both sides of the situation because they have dealt with paid parking measures in downtown Jacksonville.
“I can see for the profit, from the profitable standpoint where they need the money and need the funds for the upkeep, but it’s just one extra layer that I don’t like to do.”
Parking rates and enforcement hours
Paid parking enforcement will be in effect Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Permit holders receive daily free parking allowances of four hours on on-street spaces and eight hours in surface lots. After the free period, parking costs $2 per hour plus fees.
Non-permit holders can park for $2 per hour plus fees, with the first 20 minutes free each day to encourage quick stops. Vehicles with valid disabled placards may park free without a permit.
“Even though it’s a small amount, to people, it feels like a nuisance and a penalty where it’s something they had for free,” Palmieri said.
Paid parking area and management
The paid parking zone covers downtown on-street spaces from Ash Street to Alachua Street and Front Street to 8th Street, as well as designated surface lots throughout downtown.
One Parking, the city’s parking services provider, will maintain a local office at the Fernandina Beach Police Department, 1525 Lime Street, to assist the public.
Public parking lots are located at:
- South 4th Street (between Ash Street and Centre Street)
- North 2nd Street at Alachua Street
- North 2nd Street at Broome Street
- North 3rd Street at Alachua Street
- North 5th Street between Centre Street and Alachua Street
- South 2nd Street at Ash Street across from City Hall
- City Hall parking lot at South 2nd Street and Ash Street (weekdays after 5 p.m. and all day on weekends)
- Front Street parking lots A-D adjacent to the City Marina (Lot D for boat trailers and oversize vehicles; no overnight parking permitted)
Parking tips for downtown visitors
Drivers should use caution when navigating downtown Fernandina Beach. Key tips include:
- Observe one-way street signs
- Watch for pedestrians
- Allow at least 10 feet for traffic lanes when parking on-street
- Do not cross traffic lanes to park
- Semi-trailer trucks must follow posted delivery routes
- Exercise caution when backing up; city says nearly half of local traffic crashes happen during backing maneuvers
- Be aware of special parking regulations during holidays and events
Beach parking rules
On-beach parking at Seaside Beach (Sadler Road) is prohibited from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. year-round. Public beach access parking lots have posted hours to follow.
Learn more information about paid parking or register for a parking permit, visit fbfl.us/873/Parking.
The city has three remaining parking permit open houses upcoming at City Hall:
- Monday, Feb. 16 - 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 17 - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Wednesday, Feb. 18 - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.